20-year-old guitarist and songwriter from Houston, TX, Rebecca Laird took up playing guitar at the age of 13. Her musical influences began with the Vaughan brothers, then Alan Hayes, Albert Collins, Robben Ford, Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Matt Schofield, BB, Albert and Freddie King, and more.
Rebecca’s life changed dramatically one day when her parents showed her a PBS special featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan. Immediately captivated, Rebecca picked up her Strat and began learning the songs she had just heard well into the night and into the next morning. Soon, she began a regular attendance of the blues jams across Houston, honing her chops in a hotbed of Texas Blues. Using her newfound skills, she entered Guitar Center’s King of the Blues competition (now called Battle of the Blues) at the age of 16 she won at the store level for the first time. At age 20, she made it all the way to the national Grand Finals in L.A.
In 2010, Rebecca was the first ever recipient of the Houston Blues Society’s “T-99 Nelson” scholarship award for young musicians. She was also a repeat award winner the next year. Using the scholarship money, (coupled with scholarships from the National Guitar Workshop itself) Rebecca was able to go to the National Guitar Workshop in Austin and attend masterclasses by Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin and Elvin Bishop.
On one of these trips, she opened for Bob Margolin as well as the late Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins when they showed up for a jam at Antone’s. She has also opened for Ted Nugent at a benefit for the Wounded Warriors Project and has been featured in articles by The Houston Press, The Houston Chronicle and other media. Rebecca has represented Houston at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee in both 2012 and 2013. Recently, she made an appearance as a guest guitarist onstage with the Marshall Tucker Band in Houston, TX.
Rebecca Laird shares the stage with Cari Quoy in their collaborative band, Cari and Becks. Currently they are on tour in Scotland and Ireland.
This video was shared with us by Rock and Blues Muse Facebook page follower, Jeffrey Moberly. Thanks Jeffrey!
Enjoy!
For more information on Rebecca Laird:
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic/
I love this!!! I love that the future of Blues is in good hands!!!! Thanks for sharing, yet again Martine!!!
Richard,
I’m so happy you do! You are so welcome! Thanks for commenting. It’s really nice to hear you like what we’re featuring.
That is what I like to see .Young artist playing the blues . Thanks Martine for another artist that I have never heard of . She is awesome . That is what keeping the blues alive is all about .
Danny,
I’m so glad yo like her! Yes, it certainly is. Thanks for commenting.
Love this so much. It’s the kind of clip that makes me want to pick up my guitar and play along! Very good blues chops!